Tunnel liner



May 26, 1936- c. T. wHlTEscARvER TUNNEL LINER 18, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Jan.

MN mw vw @Y Patented May 26, 1936 PATENT OFFICE TUNNEL LINER Charles T. Whitescarver, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Anthony C. Fischer, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 18, 1935, Serial No. 2,353

8 Claims.

The invention relates to sheathing for tunnels or sewers which are driven through soft or loose earth Where considerable exterior pressure is exerted by the soil and the sheathing is required as the excavation proceeds in advance of the usual concrete structure.

One object of the invention is to provide sheathing which comprises segments formed of plates of metal and reinforcing bars which are adapted to be secured to ribs placed between the series of segments and by which a substantial saving in weight and cost of the segments may be effected.

Heretofore it has been customary in tunnel liners to form integral flanges on the segments of heavy plate metal and another object of the invention is to provide an improved segment which is light in Weight and which comprises plates which can be cut from continuous sheets and have attached thereto reinforcing bars with means for securing them to contiguous ribs to dispense with flanges on the plates.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sheathing in which the segments of each successive series are secured to intermediate ribs independently of the contiguous series so that after one series of segments has been secured in place between ribs, the next succeeding series of segments can be secured to the last rib installed without disconnecting the bolts used in securing the previously installed series, to effect a saving in the labor and cost of installation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved segment for sheathing for this purpose which is adapted efciently to carry its required load and can be produced at a low cost.

Other objects of the'invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a section of a tunnel or sewer embodying the invention. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are perspectives of different forms of segments used in each row. Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing the overlapping plates of adjacent segments. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Figs. '7 and 8are perspectives illustrating the mannerof forming on the reinforcing bars of the segments ends whereby they can be bolted to the transverse ribs. Fig. 9 is a section through one of the joints between the sections of. one of the transverse ribs. Fig. 10 is a sectional developed plan showing the staggered adjacent rows of segments. Fig. 11 is a similar view of a modilied form of the invention. Fig. 12 is a section on line I2-I2 of Fig. l1.

The invention is exemplified in a sheathing ,comprising a series of transverse ribs I5 or beams, usually conforming to the contour of the excavation at the sides of and above the base. These ribs are spaced apart longitudinally of the tunnels and are built up of sections of I-beams having a Web I5a and flanges I5b. The sections have abutting ends and are secured together by splice-plates I6 and bolts II which extend through said plates and the web I5a of the adjacent ends of rib sections. The plates I6 are out- Wardly bulged or convex and their ends are seated in the angles between the web and flanges of the rib, so that when the bolts I1 are tightened the plates will rigidly and effectively secure the sections of the ribs together. The lowermost section 20 of each rib I5 is set between and bolted to a shoe 32 on a suitable base beam 33. By constructing the ribs of sections thus secured together, they can be easily handled and transported.

The sheathing also comprises a row of segments I8 between each adjacent pair of ribs I5 to form a substantially continuous sheathing throughout the length of the tunnel or sewer. Each segment I8 comprises a metal plate I9 having corrugations I9a extending longitudinally of the segment and transversely of the tunnel from end to end of the plate and one or more bars 20 for reinforcing the plates and adapted at their ends to be bolted to the Webs I5a of the ribs I5. Each bar 23 is angular in cross section and comprises a circumferential flange 23, a radial flange 24 and integral ends 2i which are provided with bolt holes 22. Each side margin of each corrugated plate I9 has welded thereto a marginal reinforcing wire 2S. The inner crowns of each of the corrugated plates I9 where they Contact with the flange 23 are spot-Welded to the outer faces of flanges 23 of bars 20. Bolts 25 extend through the holes 22in the ends 2| of bars 2G and the web I5a of the contiguous rib to secure the segments to the ribs. In fabricating each bar 20 a V-shaped notch 28 is cut in each end portion of the radial flange 24, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The end portion 23a of the flange 23 is then bent on a line at the apex of the notch 28 until the edges of the flange 24 at the notch abut and the portion 23a of flange 23 is at right angles to the remainder of said flange 23 and forms the integral end 2l extending at right angles to the flanges 23 and 24. The abutting edges at the notch are I the sides of the plates spot-welded together as at 29. 'Ihis exemplles a simple and economical manner of forming the angle bars of the segments with integral ends for abutting the webs I5ab and attachment to the ribs I5. The angle bars 20 are adapted to enter the space between the anges of the ribs I5 and I9 terminate inwardly of the ends of these bars, and under the outer flanges I5b of the ribs. The segments in each row at the topfof the tunnel have attached thereto one bar 20 located centrally between its ends, as shown in Fig. 4. The next segments in each row are provided with a bar 20 at one end thereof and a Vcentral bar 20, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The next segments of each row have attached thereto a central bar 2U and a bar at each end, as illustrated in Fig. 2. In installing eachrow of segments the topmost segment'with the central reinforcing bars 2l] is rst bolted to the webs of adjacent ribs I5. Next, the necessary num'- ber of' segments with a reinforcing bar at one end `and a central reinforcing bar lare installed between the ribs I5, the successive segments being placed so that their upper ends which have a Vbar will underlie the marginal portion of the plate I9 on the next preceding bar at which no bar Ais provided, Yas illustrated in Fig. 5. The ends 'of the'segments at the top of the arch which areV providedwith only a central bar 20 will overlap the end portions of the adjacent segments at both sides'of the center of the tunnel, so that the end portions of the top segment will be supported by the end 'bars on the` underlying ends of the segments. The lower ends of the segments with two bars will overlap the adjacent segments so as to bek supported thereby. vBy this construction the segments make it possible to use the minimum number of bars necessary to adapt the segments to carry the `imposed load. The segments of alternate rows between the ribs are staggered as illustrated in Fig. 10 and the ribs are provided with holes for bolts for securing the bars of the segments of two adjacent rows. Asa result bolts forY securing the bars of one row of segments will pass through the ends 2| of said bars of one row and the web of the rib independently ofthe bars of the next row of segments because the bars of one row of segments will be disposed circumferentially intermediate the bars of adjacent rows. By reason of this construction and arrangement and dispensing with flanges on the plates, each row of segments can be secured by bolts to both of the ribs last set up without removing the bolts froml the installed row when the bars of the next row of'segments are installed.

In the construction of a tunnel or sewer through soft or loose earth, 'the excavation is made substantially of the cross section vnecessary for the installation of the sheathing and of suflicient depth for the installation of two ribs I5 and one row of segments. Sections of the ribs for two longitudinally spaced ribs I5 a're set up on the shoes'32 and secured together by the Vspliceplates I6 and bolts II to form complete ribs. 'I'he topmost segment is then secured to both ribs by bolts 25 which pass 'through holes 22 in the ends of its bar 20 and the webs of the ribs abuttingagainst the ends of the bar. Next, the proper segments with bars 20 at one end and a central bar 20are similarly secured to the ribs with Vtheir upper margins underlapping the ends of the top segment. Next, two-bar segments are continued to the points where their lower ends will overlap the threeibar segments at the sides of the tunnel. l A complete sheathing will thus be formed for the excavated sections of the tunnel. Next, the excavation will be advanced until there is space for another row of segments. The next rib will then be installed and the seg- 5 ments in staggered relation to the preceding row will be secured at both sides to the ribs as previously described. This procedure can be continued throughout the construction of the length of the tunnel, the segments of alternate rows 1o being staggered as described so that every other row will be composed of plates similarly disposed.

After the sheathing has been installed, a concrete 'W'allf30 is built into the sheathing, as well understood in the art. Y l5 In the modification illustrated in Figs. 11 and I2 the sheathing comprises rows of segments each of which is formed of two sections 34 andV 35. Each of said segments comprises a reinforcing bar composed of sections 36 and 31 welded to the plates -ofA the sections respectively and provided with integral ends 38 by which they can be'bolted to adjacent ribs. A connecting plate V39 is riveted as at Il` to the radial web of' each of the sections 3l of -thebar and is secured by bolts 4I to'the other section 36 of the bar. In installing these segments one row of sections may be secured to one of the ribs and acting in cantilever willY support the earth beyond the rib until the next rib is installed and the mating row of segment sections is installed and theplates are secured by bolts 4I to secure the sections "of the bars't'o-A gether.

The invention exemplifies a tunnel sheathing comprising Isegments which are light in weight, comprise structurally formed bars united to the plates, and canr be easily secured to the ribs independently of the succeeding rows of segments. The invention also exemplifies segments which can be produced at a low costiand installed at a 4'0 low cost.

An important advantage off the invention' is that after a segment has once been `installed and connected to the furthermost rib set up in the excavation, itis not necessary to detach it in connection with the installation of the next row of segments.

Another advantage is-that the plates arevcontinuously corrugated from end t0 end` to render them rigid and can be cut from continuous sheets of metal, thus making it possible to produce the segments at a low cost.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified withinV the scope oftheappended claims, without departing from theispirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pa'tent is:

1.' A tunnel liner segment comprising a plate and a' transverse thrust bar united to 4the 'platel extending across the plate, andv provided with means at its ends whereby it may be bolted'to contiguous ribs. 65

2. A tunnel liner segment comprising a plate and a transverse anglel bar provided'with circumferential and radial langes, extendingacross and secured to the iplate, and having the end portions thereof bent inwardlyV at right vangles to the ang'es to form-integral means whereby it may be secured to contiguous ribs.

' 3. A tunnel liner segment comprising-a plate'oi metal corrugated circumferentially from end to end'thereof, and a transversely extendingA thrust bar united to said plate, and having the ends thereof bent inwardly at right angles and provided with holes for bolts whereby said bar may be secured to contiguous ribs.

4. A tunnel liner segment comprising a plate corrugated circumferentially from end to end thereof, and a transversely extending angle bar having a flange welded to said plate and provided with integral means at its ends Wherebr it may be secured to contiguous ribs.

5. A sheathing for a tunnel or the like comprising a row of segments, each segment comprising a plate and one or more transverse thrust bars united to the plate, means for securing the ends of the bars to ribs, some of the plates having margins lapping the ends of contiguous segments.

6. A sheathing for a tunnel or the like comprising a pair of laterally spaced ribs, a row of segments tting between the ribs, each comprising a plate and one or more transverse bars united to the plate and provided with integral ends extending at right angles thereto, and means for securing the ends of the bars to the ribs.

7. A sheathing for a tunnel or the like comprising transverse ribs, rows of segments fitting between the ribs, each comprising a plate and one or more transverse thrust bars united to the plate and provided with ends, and means extending through said ends and the ribs for securing the segment to the ribs, the bars of the segments of one row being secured to the ribs independently of the segments of adjoining rows.

8. A tunnel liner segment composed of sections, each section comprising a plate section and a transversely extending bar section, the bar sections being united to the plate sections and provided with integral means at their ends whereby they may be secured to contiguous ribs, and means for securing contiguous bar sections together to secure the sections together when lnstalled.

CHARLES T. WHITESCARVER. 

